Randy Moss, who should know better, called Dancing Forever a "she" several times. I wanted to scream.

The overhead camera angle drove me nuts - why try to reinvent the wheel? When I watch a baseball game, the best and simplest shot is from center field. Period. I don't need razzle dazzle to watch a race - just let me see the horses.

To increase interest in any sport you need the following-

1) Recognizable Stars, racing has none because the value at stud far outweighs the risks of racing long term.

2) A clean atmosphere, 90% of the racetracks in the USA are dumps. These places are not worthy of people with kids. If people are not in tune with taking their kids to the races, you lose the younger generations, which is your future.

3) No cheating, every person I know who is not experienced(and just about all those I do know who are experienced) with horse racing automatically thinks that the entire industry is rigged.

1. Secretariat (maybe the most famous horse of all time) retired to stud after his three year old year.

2. Some of the biggest dumps I have ever been in include the Boston Garden, Wrigley Field, Veterans stadium, and Shea stadium. Anyone have a problem bringing kids there?

3. MLB, NFL and NBA havent exactly struggled since the steroids era and crooked refs have been exposed. How exactly would you or anybody else "know" if people in the game are cheating or not? How do you determine when things are cleaned up? (I have asked some of the crusaders in the industry this same question and rarely get a reasonable response that doesnt include a lot of mumbling)

No. 2 is flat out wrong. Not sure what you classify as a "dump", but 90% is way off. The only track I wouldn't take my kids to is Hazel Park. I think tracks are way more kid friendly than ever. They have all kinds of stuff to get kids to attend and have a good time. Remember, there was a time when kids weren't allowed at the track. How did the younger generations get involved in racing then? Somehow they managed to. Kids get into racing because a parent, relative or friend is already into it, not because a track is nice or isn't a "dump".

:eek: !

....it was a good day for me anyway. :)

it was a fun two days of racing. i know a lot of us had issues with the substance covering the main track, but all in all it was an excellent two days of racing. i think a lot of us stuck at home enjoyed trying to make some picks and come on between and discuss what was going on. in that respect, it's a more enjoyable day then the ky derby for instance.
and yeah, no fun in ever picking the heavy fave, anyone can do that. no one is dissing a fave by trying to make some money elsewhere--and it's a pleasant feeling to pick some longer shots that come in for a board finish-at least it is for me. it would be pretty boring if horses always came up in the same order as their odds would dictate.

as for music note, a third was no disgrace, altho it's hard with their camera work to be able to really watch much that's going on. once zenyatta got going, they zoomed in just on her. and as for next year, i doubt music note is around-but that's darley for you. it's why i try not to get too wrapped up in one horse, but try to enjoy all of them. plenty of them to root for, and no real disappointment when they leave, as there are plenty more to take their place.

:rolleyes:

i meant as a race fan, silly. but you knew that!

I beg to differ. Alot fo the hardcore ARE watching at home because between phone and internet you can play the races as easily from your couch as at a simulcast, and the beer is cheaper. In the early days of the Cup, you went to the Cup or watched on TV or at an OTB. Then more and more simulcast became available and you watchedat your local track. Then as ADW became available people realized that it was cheaper and fun to watch at home, maybe have friends over or watch and follow via blogs and bb's.
That said, the networks have not done a service to the horseplayers tha are watching.
The blimp shot is great for replaying the race but dreadful for the live action. I hate all the jumping around. (I was sure I was going to win with Westphalia until I realized I had 1/16 to go!) The dopey interviews to the exclusion of real time odds etc is insanity. Breaking for commercials with 90 seconds to post is infuriating. The networks need to at least now and then acknowledge that unlike baseball and football, in racing the betting is LEGAL and that the entire game is in fact funded by it!

:D

....it was a good day! :$:

you fit right in around here then!

This is true, hope you had a good day :) as usual "you" guys do a great job at the "mother ship" ;)

i know it hoff, good for you!

but most importantly, they all went back to the barn safe and sound.

1) OK?? Think about what his legacy coul dhave been if he wasn't retired at 3??

2) That doesn't make it OK to me, does it to you?? Also the places you mentioned are nostalgic, and SAFE for the most part for families to visit(not the Vet). Take a trip to the following tracks, hit a for a few thousand and tell me just how safe you feel being there and when leaving- Pimlico, Hollywood, Golden Gate, Thisltedown, Aqueduct, Hawthorne, etc

3) Don't be stupid... cheating is industry wide and you know it.

Amen! :)

I am in my late 30's and I was always allowed to go to the track, and thus this was how I was introduced to the sport.

A dump, is a place that you would be ashamed and embarrassed to take your wife/GF/friends/family to, Or a place where you would be afraid to leave your wife alone while you place a awager.

And if the places are not dumps, you are likely to attract more family oriented people, thus broadening your base of possible fans.

By about 4pm I was hoping to get beamed up to another galaxy. What a day...to much of a good thing is ...a BAD thing...

:D

but, you DO get a few days off???

I don't care what ANYONE thinks here, you guys are the best!

Back to work on Monday. Meanwhile my boy (avatar pic) got the day off today and will be annoyed with me for showing up tomorrow before he's has his pasture time.

I did have a decent day at the windows as I boxed the exacta in the Juvie and Turf and had the Tri in the Mile. It's like getting bonus pay for the day.

Jessica is so hot

I took a 1/2 day from work on Friday so I could watch the races live. Last year, I completely forgot the races were on - it was no fun to see the results by reading a message board. I spent way too much time on the computer over the last couple of days, but it was a lot of fun. This might be heresy to say, but I'm not sure I would enjoy going to the Derby. I don't like big crowds and I don't care about fashions, hats or otherwise. I didn't have any problem with folks trying to pick against SB or any other fav - it doesn't affect what happens on the track and, if you are trying to make $$$, betting the fav doesn't help any.

I get very attached to my favorites (not just Indys either - I love anything by Gulch or his sons, particularly Nayef), so it's really hard for me to be somewhat disinterested in order to protect my feelings. I remember betting Tempera (still miss her, poor thing) to win the Juvy Fillies a few years back and getting a nice, juicy 11-1 on her. I didn't care about the $$, though - just winning the race was a joyous feeling. I guess I'd rather take my chances with being emotionally involved and deal with the pain when horses are retired before their time. Still, I truly will never forgive Sheikh Mo for retiring Bernardini. I know he was a controversial horse on various boards, but he was very talented and he could have been an outstanding older horse. I know I'm bitter - I'll survive, of course, but this kind of thing is a punch in the gut. As you say, however, there are always newcomers to join the fray - and since I have not become an ex-racing fan, apparently I have learned to roll with the punches somewhat.